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Ridley Scott's Monopoly Movie All About Our Economy?

by Alex Billington
March 2, 2009
Source: MTV

No matter how much I continue to hear about the Monopoly movie, I still feel like it's all just a big hoax, created by Hollywood for no legitimate reason. I can't really imagine that Ridley Scott, the man behind Alien and Blade Runner and Gladiator, would want to direct a movie based on a board game?! Oh, but he does, "I have to direct it," Scott told MTV. In their recent update, Scott and Hasbro's CEO Brian Goldner revealed some interesting thoughts on the direction of the movie and it's modern societal connection - the economy. But is that enough to actually make this into a great movie or instead kill it before it even starts?

"The whole world is about the financial markets," Goldner told MTV. "You can't turn on the news today without understanding the financial markets and what's going on out there." So why not make this movie about that issue as well as the "personal story" contained with the Monopoly experience? Does anyone know what Goldney is talking about besides the status of Hasbro's stock? "[Ridley has] built these great big worlds of imagination," Goldner said. "Combine that with Pamela Pettler who's writing this great script about real people kind of playing a real-life game of Monopoly, not the board game, although they're icons of the game. And then you really get the idea why this story could make sense right now."

I get a feeling that this reminds me a lot of The Day the Earth Stood Still, and how they tried to connect that movie to the current concern over our environment. So it sounds like Hasbro and Universal want to capitalize (pun intended) on our recession and make a movie that hits home with audiences because it deals with money. We'll let Ridley Scott, who seems to have lost his edge over the last few years, explain why it could be good. "We have identified a pretty good story and it is fundamentally a movie, not a game, probably describing in a way the characters in the film, the passion of the game, and how the game came about."

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm not sold yet. I think Ridley has a lot of work to do before he can convince me that this isn't just a big gimmick designed to capitalize on our ailing economy. Thoughts?

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

wassssssuuuuuupppppppp

lol...it'll be some action packed con movie with an in depth story line and shock everyone!
Timothy

Sounds okay to me - good idea, actually. It doesn't really seem connected to Monoply at all though, which sort of tarnishes the film with needless attachments.
kenn stewart

What do you mean by 'Ridley, who seems to have lost his edge over the last few years'. What crap you write. Kingdom of Heaven DC is a masterpiece, American Gangster is a superbly directed drama and shamelessly neglected for Oscar nominations . Body of Lies was one of the best films of 2008. And A Good Year is such a great feel good film, Americans just didn't get it. I have to laugh at the comments by most Americans on their opinion of Ridley Scott, when you look at the recent best working directors list some of these have only directed 2 or 3 films and of questionable quality.
Janet

It seems to me that the last thing people would want to watch right now is a movie about what's actually happening in their day to day lives. Too depressing.
http://www.themoviebanter.com Craigc

This doesn't make sense, why the sudden need for board game movies? Maybe he will make this an action conspiracy like Boiler Room. Otherwise, I shot the thimble.
Kail

This is like making a movie based on Pac Man, it makes no friggin' sense! Monopoly has no story, and really makes no sense besides the fact that you and your friends are playing it. WHAT THE FUCK MY BRAINS GONNA EXPLODE
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

Candy Land makes more sense than this...
Apollo

Clue has a possible story, Candyland has a possible story, but Monopoly? And I'm not sure if Scott is the right director for this type of movie.
one

I have actually been in the office where the scripts are kept for all previous and upcoming projects for Scottfree. There are many books and versions of the game. Scottfree does own the film rights and are working on a plot. So far he is not directing it, only developing the story. I do agree however...Monopoly is a stretch and probably should not be done, but if anyone can do it...Ridley and his company can. I don't care what anyone says. Ridley hasn't lost his edge.
Nut-Meg

as long as they use the George W. Bush impact on the economy this will work!
Chris H.

So basically an updated version of Wall Street-esque movie with a look at how CEO's wheel and deal unethically? hmmm.
Rory

WTF. Why pay royalties to Monopoly. When it just really takes the name.
Stacia

Yeah I really don't agree with this movie's conception. I mean...monopoly. I've never even been able to finish a real game of monopoly myself when I was a kid...always took too long. Haven't played it in years, actually. It had no...no story. I don't get why someone wanted to make this film. Candyland, however, was my FAVORITE board game as a kid, that and that...cherry picking game...and I'm excited to see it made into a film IF it gets a good script. I can totally see it being some twisted film that druggies will love haha. I was always afraid of Lord Licorice, and he can totally be like...EVIL. Let's hope they make the film and sugar induced and insane as the board looks.
viral

i think this has potential to be great... you see as #13 rightly pointed everyone played monopoly with no back story and most people never even finished the game because it took so long... but if you were to translate it to a movie i can see how this works... i dont know but i get this aviator-esque feel about this... it could be based on this one character who goes about his "business" ( a monopoly clone) and his wheelings and dealing and the ramifications and then throw in his involvement in some sort of financial conspiracy and the effect on the world i can see this work out... really looking forward to this... people keep forgetting why ridely scott is great and they do so at their own peril.... i mean the guy who gave us gladiatior can really do no wrong... also i feel his take on W was brilliant... looking forward to this one.
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

@ 14... Scott didn't make W, that'd be Stone you're thinking of.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

I love Monopoly, but I feel that just like in the game, an hour in I will want to get up and leave. I like the game Life better, at least that can have some justification in being made into a movie.....well, actually, no, it doesn't.
audrey

Isn't it pretty much a film like Wall Street? How can you write off the idea of it?! United States IS a MONOPOLY. It's owned by various families who generally make or break the lives of many. The original design was created to reflect the world in the early 1900s by Elizabeth Magie and eventually fully developed by Charles Darrow in the 70s. It's PERFECT because history has repeated itself.. the fall of golden age of the 20s leading the crash of 1929 to RIGHT NOW! GREED GREED GREED!! A great premise to drive a plot.
http://www.jokevilleproductions.com Andrew Palmer

They stole my idea. I have a copyrighted script through the WGA predating the announcement of the film to prove it.
Zoot Rollo III

Kenn Stewart is right on. Ridley Scott has really hit his pace with his more recent work. Why American Gangster was largely ignored is unfathomable though the whining over Kingdom of Heaven was at least partially explainable (right wing Christians and illiterate reviewers who didn't read their Crusader history). Who cares what subject Scott tackles. It's a testimony to his creative genius that he's willing to approach diverse subject matter, that he doesn't take the safe approach and cater only to a cultivated caste of worshipers. What evidence is there that a movie about Monopoly directed by Ridley Scott would not succeed? None. Have a little faith.
Gunnso

The movie should be about ass holes trying to be banker only to swipe pink 50s when your not looking, they should also make the movie the same langth as an actual game of monopoly, approx. 3 days. It would also be cool if the acters were boats, cars, wheel barrows, shoes and sacks of money. I would watch a movie like that. Also I would like to add that a connect 4 movie would make me jump for joy. "Pretty sneeky sis"
Mandj0713

Really? Monopoly movie? I cannot believe it! With Candyland and Battleship, this is just too much. Appears Hollywood is having trouble coming up with original stuff. What's next? Chutes and Ladders? Sorry? Then will they foray into card games like UNO?